Girard Gibbs’ whistleblower attorneys represent people who are aware that fraud was committed against the government who wish to sue on behalf of the government to recover stolen money and recoup the government’s losses. Together with our clients, we prepare and file lawsuits to recover monies lost by the government as a result of healthcare fraud, government contractor fraud, tax fraud, SEC violations, and more. Lawsuits filed on behalf of the government by individuals are called qui tam lawsuits, and the individuals who file qui tam lawsuits are called whistleblowers.

Federal and state laws such as the False Claims Act, Stark Law, SEC Whistleblower Act (Dodd-Frank Act), and other whistleblower laws provide monetary incentives for whistleblowers to step forward and report fraud, often risking their careers. If a whistleblower lawsuit is successful and money is recovered for the government, the whistleblower will be awarded up to 30 percent of the amount recovered.

These awards can be significant. In fiscal year 2014 alone, the U.S. Department of Justice recovered nearly $6 billion in cases concerning government fraud. Of the nearly $6 billion recovered, $3 billion was recovered in cases filed under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, and resulted in $435 million in payouts to whistleblowers. In fiscal year 2014, more than 700 qui tam lawsuits were filed, up from only 30 qui tam lawsuits in 1987.

Any decision to become a whistleblower requires careful thought, however, and it is crucial that the proper steps be followed to ensure that the incentives and the protections afforded by the False Claims Act and other whistleblower laws are preserved. Girard Gibbs’ whistleblower attorneys guide whistleblowers carefully through the process to ensure their interests are protected.

Girard Gibbs’ whistleblower experience

Our whistleblower practice includes:

Qui Tam Attorneys that assist individuals who have learned of a past or present fraud committed against the federal or state government. Qui tam lawsuits frequently involve government programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, or government contractors.